Waterlilies in Prismacolor

This is the beginning of a colored pencil painting on Stonehenge paper. The picture was first penciled in lightly. I'm using Prismacolor colored pencils, and to this point I've used apple green, peacock green, crimson red, sky blue light, Indigo blue, blue slate, orange, deco pink, and canary yellow. Most of my strokes are small and circular.
The reflection of the sky color on the leaves attracted me to this image.

Trout Brook Waterfall

"Trout Brook Waterfall", 2010
Watercolor and pastel on Strathmore, 9" x 12"

This painting is of the remainder of an old mill dam in a favorite hiking spot, Trout Brook Reservation. I used the water color as the underpainting and added details with soft pastel. The paper was Strathmore rough surface which worked for the foam.
I'm sorry that I've posted few pieces to the blog this year, but I'm working to get back to painting. I was diagnosed with lymphoma, had 5 months of chemotherapy, and am working to try to return to normal (if that's possible). The lymphoma is treatable with the goal that I will go into remission. Enjoy. Each day is a gift.

Graphite

Untitled, 2010

Graphite on Bristol vellum, 6" x 8 1/2"

Zendala

Zendala 2, 2009

Sharpie pen and Prismacolor pencil on paper, 6.5" diameter

I drew this zendala on dark paper. I liked the response of the colored pencil to the grain of the paper. These are fun to do.

Zentangle Tile

A New Tile

Sharpie marker and Prismacolor colored pencils on Canson Watercolor Paper, 3.5" x 3.5"

This is the first time I've used the Sharpie. It bleeds into the paper some, so you've got to work fast. Sakura Pigma Micron pens and Pelikan Techno Liners won't spread and you get a sharper line.

Listening In

"'Team' Strategy", 2009
Pastel on Strathmore paper, 11 3/4 " x 14 3/4"

This scene at the Sterling Fair caught my eye. It seems as though the horses were listening in to the farmers' conversation. I took the photo and closely cropped the scene. This painting is part of the farming series.
I worked at developing the center of interest, the area where the viewers eye is drawn. The human figures naturally draw our eye, but this part of the painting also has the eye catching color, the hardest edges, and the greatest contrast. The farmers are framed by the surrounding horses. The difference in size of the farmers and the horses also brings a focus. The center of interest is off center. The background has been changed and simplified.
This pastel painting won a Champion ribbon at the 2009 Sterling Fair.

Sunken Meadow Sunset

"Sunken Meadow Sunset", 2009

Prismacolor pencil on Bristol board, 5" x 6 1/2"

The photo reference for this was taken in Eastham, MA at Sunken Meadow Beach. This colored pencil piece won First Place and Reserve Champion ribbons in the 2010 Sterling Fair.